Kevin Gleason to make WTCC debut with Lada at Monza

Kevin Gleason will be the latest addition to the grid this weekend at Monza, driving RC Motorsport’s second Lada Vesta, bringing to field up to 16 cars at the historic Italian circuit.

The American will be making his World Touring Car Championship debut, after two years racing on-and-off in the TCR International Series with WestCoast Racing, where he was three-times a race winner.

Gleason will also be the first American driver to take part in a WTCC race in five years, after Robb Holland drove for Bamboo Engineering in a Chevrolet Cruze at Sonoma in 2012.

“I have followed the series closely for a few years now and have been along to a few of the races,” said Gleason. “I have been very impressed at the levels of professionalism and of course the quality of the drivers so when the opportunity came along to join RC I jumped at the chance.

“I’m looking forward to joining all of the top-level drivers in this highly competitive series; the only downside is that things have come together very late and I will only sit in the car for the first time today, so I am managing my expectations for Monza.”

Gleason had been working on a programme to continue in the TCR International Series before the WTCC opportunity with RC Motorsport came up.

“Up until the weekend we were still working on a deal to return to the TCR International Series so to be taking the grid a week later in the WTCC is a bit of a surprise! I have to thank all those involved in pulling this together including Francois Ribeiro, RC Motorsport and BAM Motorsport Promotions who have gone the extra mile to get me into the championship.”